Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has been ruled out of the team's crucial Champions League round of 16 first-leg clash against Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday due to a persistent knee injury.
Bad news for Arsenal as Martin Odegaard ruled out against crucial UCL match vs Leverkusen
Manager Mikel Arteta confirmed the absence in his pre-match press conference, stating simply that the Norwegian playmaker is "out" and will miss his fourth consecutive match. He said:
“He’s not available.”
The 27-year-old sustained the knee problem during a 1-1 Premier League draw with Brentford on February 12, briefly returned for the north London derby against Tottenham, but has since been sidelined as the issue lingers.
The setback comes at a challenging time for Arsenal, who face a tough test in Germany against last season's Bundesliga champions without their key creative force in midfield. Odegaard's recurring fitness struggles this campaign, including an earlier knee issue that sidelined him for nearly two months and a separate shoulder problem, have limited his appearances, raising concerns among supporters about his availability for the remainder of the season.
Norway manager Stale Solbakken has downplayed the severity, insisting there is nothing serious and emphasizing the need for full recovery, with a potential return eyed for late March or April.
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